EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *sb0643* SENATE BILL 643 C5, M5 5lr1825 CF 5lr1823 By: Senators Gallion, Ready, Carozza, and Salling Introduced and read first time: January 25, 2025 Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Public Utilities – Energy Generation 2 FOR the purpose of stating the authority to construct, permit, and operate in the State an 3 energy generating system that produces energy from natural gas; stating the 4 General Assembly’s support for the development of additional nuclear energy in the 5 State; stating that the General Assembly encourages PJM Interconnection, LLC to 6 provide an expedited interconnection process for new thermal generation resources 7 in the State; and generally relating to energy generation in the State. 8 BY adding to 9 Article – Public Utilities 10 Section 7–218 11 Annotated Code of Maryland 12 (2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 13 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15 Article – Public Utilities 16 7–218. 17 (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, AND SUBJECT TO 18 SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, ENERGY GENERATING SY STEMS THAT PRODUCE 19 ENERGY FROM NATURAL GAS MAY BE CONSTRUCTED , PERMITTED, AND OPERATED 20 IN THE STATE. 21 (B) A PERSON CONSTRUCTING AN ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEM UNDER 22 THIS SECTION SHALL C OMPLY WITH THE PROVI SIONS OF THIS SUBTIT LE RELATING 23 TO REQUIREMENTS TO O BTAIN: 24 2 SENATE BILL 643 (1) A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENC E AND NECESSITY ; OR 1 (2) COMMISSION APPROVAL F OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 2 GENERATING SYSTEM . 3 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 4 (1) the General Assembly supports the development of additional nuclear 5 energy in the State, including small modular reactors and the combination of nuclear 6 energy and energy produced from natural gas, for reliable clean energy in the State; and 7 (2) the General Assembly encourages PJM Interconnection, LLC to provide 8 an expedited interconnection process for new thermal generation resources in the State. 9 SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 10 October 1, 2025. 11